Dirty Harry

Sociology? Oh, you'll go far — that's if you live ... Just don't let your college degree get you killed 'cause I'm liable to get killed along with ya.

When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross.

I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

Dirty Harry is a 1971 film about a San Francisco cop with little regard for rules, but who always gets results, tracking down a serial killer who snipes at random victims.

[in note to the mayor] To the City of San Francisco, I will enjoy killing one person every day until you pay me one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). If you agree say so tomorrow morning in Personal Column San Francisco Chronicle and I will set up meeting. If I do not hear from you it will be my next pleasure to kill a Catholic priest or a nigger. Scorpio

[in a letter] The double-crossing San Francisco police made me do this. Now ransom $200,000 in used 10s and 20s. One man with yellow bag, south side, Marina Green, East Harbor, 9 p.m., she has oxygen until 3 a.m. tomorrow morning, red panties and bra, nice tits, mole on left thigh. Anything cute and you'll force me to let girl die of slow suffocation. Scorpio

[to Callahan, on the phone] If I even think you're being followed, the girl dies. If you talk to anyone, I don't care if it's a Pekinese pissing against a lamppost, the girl dies ... No car. I give you a certain amount of time to go from phone booth to phone booth. I ring four times. You don't answer by the fourth ring, I hang up and that's the end of the game. The girl dies ... Cop! ... I hope you're not stupid.

[to Callahan] Left hand. Let's see the gun.[Harry pulls out his .44 Magnum] My! That's a big one.

[to Callahan] No, don't pass out on me now cop! No, no, no, no, no. Do we understand each other? I said do we understand each other? Listen up cop, I changed my mind. I'm going to let her die, I just wanted you to know that.

[in the hospital, with a battered face] They tried to frame me with the Deacon girl murder, and now they're trying to murder me — and look at me, just look at me. I'm supposed to be innocent until proven guilty and just look at what they did to me. Everywhere I go, cops follow me — and just look at me.

[to a school bus driver] Hear me, you old hag, I'm telling you to drive or I'll decorate this bus with your brains.

[in a note] To the City of San Francisco — You have double-crossed me for the last time. I'm warning you to have my $200,000 dollars and a jet airplane ready and waiting. I will call the Mayor's Office at one o'clock and tell you about the hostages who I will be happy to kill if you don't do exactly what I say. Scorpio.

Insp. Harry Callahan: Yeah. Tell them Inspector Callahan thinks there's a 2-11 in progress at the bank. Be sure and tell them that's in progress.

Jaffe: In progress. Yes sir.

[goes to phone and starts dialing]

Insp. Harry Callahan: Now, if they'll just wait for the cavalry to arrive. [immediately, an alarm bell goes off and a gunshot is heard] Ah, shit!

[After shooting several of the bank-robbers and stopping their getaway car by shooting the driver, Inspector Callahan approaches the front steps of the bank. The bank robber that Callahan shot first, wounding him and forcing him to drop his shotgun, now makes an effort to retrieve it. He pauses as he sees Callahan approach, aiming his revolver.]

Callahan: I know what you're thinking: "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?

[The thief gives up trying to retrieve his shotgun; Callahan picks it up and starts to walk away.]

Thief: Hey! [Callahan turns around] I gots to know!

[Callahan aims his revolver and pulls the trigger, but the gun just clicks on an empty chamber, and he grins, laughs, and walks away.]

Gonzalez: [about quitting the force] I've been doing a lot of thinking about it. I have a teaching credential and I figure, what for, you know?

[pause]

Gonzalez's wife: I thought I could take it ... Whatever it takes to be a cop's wife, I'm just not sure I'm making it. He really tries and these bastards, you know, Pig this, Pig that. Ah, but maybe it's when I watch him walk out that door at night, and I think, what if this is the last time I ever see him again ... doesn't it drive your wife crazy?

Callahan: Nope.

Gonzalez's wife: You mean she got used to it.

Callahan: No, she never did really.

Gonzalez's wife: Well, what then?

Callahan: She's dead.

Gonzalez's wife: Oh, please forgive me.

Callahan: She was driving home late one night and a drunk crossed the center line. There was no reason for it, really.

Gonzalez's wife: I'm so sorry.

Callahan: That's o.k. Look, I want you to tell Chico that I understand, you know, him quitting. I-I think he's right. This is no life for you two.

Callahan: If I tried that, your head'd be splattered all over this field. Now where's the girl?

Scorpio: I want a lawyer!

Callahan: I said, where's the girl?

Scorpio: I have the right for a lawyer.

Callahan: Where's the girl?

Scorpio: I have the right for a lawyer, don't shoot me, I have rights, want a lawyer.

District Attorney: I've just been looking over your arrest report. A very unusual piece of police work. Really amazing.

Callahan: Yeah, well I had some luck.

District Attorney: You're lucky I'm not indicting you for assault with intent to commit murder.

Callahan: What?!

District Attorney: Where the hell does it say you've got a right to kick down doors, torture suspects, deny medical attention and legal counsel. Where have you been? Does Escobedo ring a bell? Miranda? I mean, you must have heard of the Fourth Amendment. What I'm saying is, that man had rights.

Callahan: Well, I'm all "broken up" about that man's rights.

District Attorney: You should be. I've got news for you, Callahan. As soon as he's well enough to leave the hospital, he walks.

Callahan: What are you talking about?

District Attorney: He's free.

Callahan: You mean you're letting him go?

District Attorney: We have to, we can't try him.

Callahan: And why is that?

District Attorney: Because I'm not wasting a half a million dollars of the taxpayer's money on a trial we can't possibly win. The problem is, we don't have any evidence.

Callahan: Are you trying to tell me that Ballistics can't match the bullet up to this rifle?

District Attorney: It does not matter what Ballistics can do. This rifle might make a nice souvenir. But it's inadmissible as evidence.

Callahan: And who says that?

District Attorney: It's the law.

Callahan: Well then, the law is crazy!

District Attorney: This is Judge Bannerman of the appellate court. He also holds classes in Constitutional Law in Berkeley. I've asked him for an opinion — your Honor?

Judge Bannerman: Well, in my opinion, the search of the suspect's quarters was illegal. Evidence obtained thereby, such as that hunting rifle, for instance, is inadmissible in court. You should have gotten a search warrant. I'm sorry, but it's that simple.

Callahan: Search warrant!? There was a girl dying.

District Attorney: She was in fact dead according to the medical report.

Callahan: But I didn't know that.

Judge: The court would have to recognize the police officer's legitimate concern for the girl's life, but there is no way they can possibly condone police torture. All evidence concerning the girl — the suspect's confession, all physical evidence — would have to be excluded.

Callahan: (sighs) There must be something you can get him on.

Judge: Without the evidence of the gun and the girl, (half chuckles) I couldn't convict him of spitting on the sidewalk. No, the suspect's rights were violated, under the Fourth and Fifth and probably the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Callahan: And Anne Marie Deacon, what about her rights? I mean, she's raped and left in a hole to die. Who speaks for her?

District Attorney: The District Attorney's office, if you'll let us. I've got a wife and three kids. I don't want him on the streets any more than you do.

Callahan: Well, he won't be out there long.

District Attorney: What is that supposed to mean?

Callahan: I mean sooner or later he's gonna stub his toe and then I'll be right there.

District Attorney: This office won't stand for any harassment.

Callahan: You know, you're crazy if you think you've heard the last of this guy. He's gonna kill again.

District Attorney: How do you know?

Callahan: 'Cause he likes it.

Chief: Have you been following that man?

Callahan: Yeah, I've been following him on my own time. And anybody can tell I didn't do that to him.

Chief: How?

Callahan: Cause he looks too damn good, that's how!

Mayor: (on phone) The jet must be fueled and ready to go in a half an hour. Skeleton crew, they must be volunteers. Tell them the man is dangerous. Well, here, I'll read you this note which was delivered at eight o'clock this morning: "To the City of San Francisco. You have double-crossed me for the last time. I'm warning you to have my $200,000 in a jet airplane ready and waiting. I will call Mayor's office at one o'clock and tell you about the hostages who I will be happy to kill if you don't do exactly what I say, Scorpio" (pauses) Well, you better have somebody standing by — it could be a false alarm but don't count on it.

Scorpio: It's very simple. I've got the kids and you start screwing around, the kids start dying. Is the plane ready?

Mayor: The jet is being fueled and ready to go at the airport. The money will be there by the time you get there.

Scorpio: All right, now listen and listen very carefully. I'm going to be driving along nice and easy, just me and a bus load of kids. I'm going to turn off on the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. on my way to the Santa Rosa Airport. I don't want to see any police cars, helicopters, whatever. Now if you got the guts to play this game by the rules, the kids will have a nice little plane ride.

Mayor: Well, where are you going?

Scorpio: I'll tell the pilot when I get on the plane. No alerts, nothin'.

Mayor: I guarantee you you will not be molested in any way. I give you my word of honor on it.

Chief: Callahan? — you willing to take the money to him?

Callahan: When are you people gonna stop messing around with this guy. He's gotta be stopped now.

Mayor: He's got a bus load of kids and I can't take that chance. I gave my word of honor on it, and he will not be molested — and that's a direct order, Callahan!